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Monthly Archives: March 2015

Greetings beauties!

This is my first Brand Spotlight blogpost in a series of many more to come (hopefully), where I will feature brands that epitomize the very definition of Green Beauty. My first choice is, in my opinion, the essence of green beauty: Laurel Whole Plant Organics !

“As we are awakening and learning where our food comes from, this is also a time to be aware of where our skin care comes from, how its made, and what is in it. The most effective skin care is raw, organic, farm sourced, handcrafted and made with love. It’s time to raise the bar for skin care ingredients.”

The radiant Laurel Shaffer, founder of LWPO

– Laurel Shaffer, founder of Laurel Whole Plant Organics

Laurel Whole Plant Organics is a cult-favorite among bloggers, magazines’s editors, and skincare junkies everywhere… and with good reason! I have been longing to try some of the products ever since the brand was under the Sequoia Beauty banner.

From Sequoia Beauty to Laurel Whole Plant Organics…

Left: Sequoia Beauty Right: Laurel Whole Plant Organics

One of the changes from Sequoia Beauty is obviously the packaging. Personally, I much prefer the current packaging to the former one. Sequoia Beauty’s packaging was cute, but the LWPO’s package looks more sophisticated, refined, less amateur-ish. Natural beauty, sweetheart and founder Laurel Shaffer wanted a packaging that clearly reflected its content. To that I say: “Mission accomplished!” Aside from the packaging, the major shift from Sequoia is the elimination of lotions in favor of balms, which was a bold move, but a smart one! I, for one, love balms! Because I have such dry skin, I tend to gravitate towards them. I’m all about the balms!! In addition to the balms, Laurel altered most of the original formulas, taking into consideration new plant sciences and discoveries, not yet available 4 years ago, when Sequoia was created. Just recently, LWPO launched an Eye Serum. If you’re wondering what the difference is between the the Eye Balm and the Eye serum, keep in mind that both are great and can be used depending on your own skin type and skin needs. However, Laurel suggests using the Eye serum during the day and the Eye balm at night.

“Whole Plant Organics”, what does that mean?

What makes this brand unique is that Laurel strives to create 100% ‘whole plant’ organic formulas. That means the plants maintain their vibrancy, as if they were just plucked from the earth. The ingredients cannot be chemically refined in anyway, as she feel that only dulls their efficacy. She and her team only accept certified organic ingredients, as they have an average of 40% more antioxidant content. She also doesn’t use ‘natural’ ingredients that are actually synthetic, like ascorbic acid, CoQ10, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, and others… ALL of those ingredients can be found in the living plants that we use, so they prefer to formulate with that in mind.

Plants Love Science

Plants Love Science

On every Laurel WPO’s label, you’ll notice a red heart and the words “Plant”, “Love” and “Science” written below the heart. These words are Laurel’s guidelines, she translates them into 3 major aspects: Purity (Plants), Efficacy (Science) and Love. For Laurel, the purity and efficacy aspects go hand in hand; the purer the ingredient and formula, the more effective the product. Period. And the love aspect is so important! Laurel is deeply dedicated to creating a facial experience that truly transports people and takes them away. She wants us to feel loved and taken care of when using her products. Again, I say: “mission accomplished!” It may sound corny, but every time I use Laurel’s products, I feel like I just pampered my skin, as I would take care of a loved one. I feel like I matter, and when you use products that make you feel loved, you feel good about yourself. Love conquers all, right!

Laurel’s #1 Beauty tip

Laurel believes that less is more! I wholeheartedly agree with that statement! Laurel loves single ingredients such as rosewater, honey and unrefined oils. She also believes in the power of caring for our skin with love and proper skincare.

Final thought…

What attracts me to LWPO is the inherent dedication and passion to educate and inspire women to use skincare as an act of self care and of self love, not to mention that she uses the most cutting edge studies to formulate her products. I honestly trust Laurel’s integrity, so I’m confident that her products are pure and efficient. Laurel WPO is in alignment with my personal values, not to mention that the products have become essentials in my routine. I have tested many, many, many brands and products since I started blogging (and even before that!) I can assure you, Laurel WPO is one of the most comprehensive lines I’ve seen. And, something tells me it’s only the beginning!

Greetings beauties!

About Odacité…

Odacité, French for “audacity” is aptly named because it has, in a way, boldly revolutionized the norm of green beauty. When you take a look at all of Odacité’s components, you realize the brand goes way beyond the mere concepts of natural and organic. It was the devastating news of a breast cancer that led founder, Parisian, Valerie Grandury to create her own skincare line. Realizing most ingredients in mainstream personal care products are carcinogens, she took matters into her own hands and created toxins-free products for her herself. Her products had so much success with her entourage that she took things to the next level. Her cancer diagnostic was also a major wake-up call and it inspired her to completely transform her lifestyle. She became passionate about health related issues and a balanced diet focused on raw and vegan food. In addition to creating Odacité, Valérie is also one of the co-founders of the chic and best place to shop (online & brick-and-mortar, in West Hollywood and in Toronto) for luxurious green beauty products.

The Freshiency date

For Valerie, you can’t deliver efficient products if they are not fresh, which is why she came up with the “Freshiency date” protocol. That date indicates exactly how long the active ingredients will maintain their optimal potency to give your skin the expected results. Why all the fuss about fresh ingredients? Would you eat an apple you bought 6 months ago? Why do the same with skincare?! Valerie’s approach to skincare is akin to the one we have with food. Actually, if we stop and think about it, it all makes perfect sense! I cringe when I think of all the times I used products that had been sitting on a store’s shelf for months or years. Of course, conventional products contain preservatives, Odacité doesn’t use preservatives, hence the use of the “Freshiency date”. Every product is made and bottled the moment you make your order, they are not sitting on a dusty shelf. Every ingredient is fresh, raw, pure, natural and organic, when possible.

NIGHT TIME ANTIOXIDANTS REPAIR SERUM

I started testing the Night serum* right around Christmas. It was everything I expected and more!! There isn’t a drop of plain water in this luscious thirst quenching serum! I love that the first ingredient is the multi-purpose aloe vera: it’s great for acne, fights aging and has a plethora of antioxidants. Upon application, my skin felt moist and quenched. The texture is light and smooth to the touch. I felt an instant satisfaction that I don’t get when using facial oils or other oil-based serums, but I think it has to do with the fact that my skin is not only dry but also dehydrated, which is not the same. It made me reconsider the place of creams in my regimen. Although it is a night serum, I cheated and used it during the day a few times because I love it so much. However, I think we reap more benefits if we use as directed, at nights, because it’s conceived to maximize skin’s repair cycle while we sleep. It does even better if you exfoliate beforehand with Jojoba Beads Exfoliants, it allows for a deeper absorption of the serum. Within days of testing, I would wake up with plump (thank you hyaluronic acid!), smooth skin as opposed to “sand-paper” skin. I also felt that it hydrated and moisturized my skin all night long; When using this serum, I make sure I slather it everywhere on my face and neck while skin is damp (use a toner/mist). This serum is great alone but performs even better if you use one of Odacité’s skin boosters/serum concentrates depending on your skin’s needs (you’ll get a review on one of them in the coming weeks).

One of my goal for my blog is to review eco-conscious and socially responsible brands, but I also want to make sure I feature brands financially accessible to everyone. Skincare is part of wellness and all of us should have access to it. Obviously, Odacité’s products don’t come cheap. That said, in considering the price, we must recognize the source and the quality of the ingredients, the packaging, the process of the formulations and so many other factors. When I tested some of Odacité’s products, and particularly the Night repair serum, I saw and actually felt instant as well as long-term results, so I understand the reasoning behind the pricing. It all depends on your priorities and budget. Considering the fact that this serum packs the highest concentrations of nourishing and repairing ingredients, it is worth the price. I wouldn’t review it on the blog if I didn’t think so. If you’re to invest in a nighttime skincare essential and you have the means to do it, this one would be a smart choice!

Final thoughts…

This product is a five-star product because of its hydrating, nourishing and repairing ingredients, but most of all, the Nighttime Antioxidants Repair serum has given me my skin back! It has found happiness and balance again. Still not sure about the price? Well, get this: I don’t have to layer multiple products to keep my skin moisturized all night long, so I end up saving money! The important thing to remember about Odacité’s products is that they are result-oriented and, in my opinion, they deliver! I have won my battle against dry, dull-looking skin and I wake up to fresh, supple and moist skin. Thank you, Odacité!

What do you think of Odacité? What products have you tried or would like to try from the brand?